ArticleToxicology reports2021
Altered toxicological endpoints in humans from common quaternary ammonium compound disinfectant exposure.
Article in Toxicology reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 56 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 133 citations in OpenAlex.
- How long do bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses retain their replication capacity on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review examining environmental resilience versus healthcare-associated infection risk by "fomite-borne risk assessment".Clinical microbiology reviews · 2024Pooled it
- Chemical Inhibition of Sterol Biosynthesis.Biomolecules · 2024Pooled it
- Article
- Skin absorption and metabolism of [Toxicological research · 2026Article
- Prenatal occupational exposure to quaternary ammonium compounds and birthweight: findings from a pilot study using meconium as a biological matrix.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026Article
- Article
- ToxBase: A Multidimensional ToxCast Reference Database for High-Throughput Human Exposome Analysis.Environmental science & technology · 2026Article
- The Association between Prenatal Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) Exposure and Neonatal Birth Obesity: Insights from Epidemiology andEnvironment & health (Washington, D.C.) · 2026Article
- Differential and Sex-Specific Toxicity of Aspirated Quaternary Ammonium Compounds.Environmental science & technology · 2026Article
- Exposure to Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) in Assisted Living Facilities: Implications for Older Adults.Environmental science & technology · 2026Article
- Ingestion of Surface Residues Dominates Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) Exposure in Chinese Urban Homes: Evidence from Silicone Wristband Passive Sampling and Urinary Biomonitoring.Environmental science & technology · 2026Article
- Maternal and Placental Inflammation Influence Formation of Neural Tube Defects in Quaternary Ammonium Compound Exposed Mice.Birth defects research · 2025Article
- Metabolome informs about the chemical exposome and links to brain health.Environment international · 2025Review
- Article
- Dual Biocide Behaviour of Quaternary Ammonium Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Thymus Essential Oil for Stone Conservation.Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Review
- Comparative evaluation of contemporary ultraviolet-C disinfection technologies: UVCeed as a benchmark for smart, portable, and effective pathogen control.GMS hygiene and infection control · 2025Review
- Oral exposure to benzalkonium chlorides in male and female mice reveals alteration of the gut microbiome and bile acid profile.Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2024Article
- Insight into didecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide toxicity following acute exposure in pullets (Gallus gallusdomesticus).Veterinary research communications · 2024Article
- Effect of Antimicrobial Wipes on Hospital-Associated Bacterial and Fungal Strains.Infection & chemotherapy · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Humans are frequently exposed to Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs). QACs are ubiquitously used in medical settings, restaurants, and homes as cleaners and disinfectants. Despite their prevalence, nothing is known about the health effects associated with chronic low-level exposure. Chronic QAC toxicity, only recently identified in mice, resulted in developmental, reproductive, and immune dysfunction. Cell based studies indicate increased inflammation, decreased mitochondrial function, and disruption of cholesterol synthesis. If these findings translate to human toxicity, multiple physiological processes could be affected. This study tested whether QAC concentrations could be detected in the blood of 43 human volunteers, and whether QAC concentrations influenced markers of inflammation, mitochondrial function, and cholesterol synthesis. QAC concentrations were detected in 80 % of study participants. Blood QACs were associated with increase in inflammatory cytokines, decreased mitochondrial function, and disruption of cholesterol homeostasis in a dose dependent manner. This is the first study to measure QACs in human blood, and also the first to demonstrate statistically significant relationships between blood QAC and meaningful health related biomarkers. Additionally, the results are timely in light of the increased QAC disinfectant exposure occurring due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. MAIN
findingsThis study found that 80 % of study participants contained QACs in their blood; and that markers of inflammation, mitochondrial function, and sterol homeostasis varied with blood QAC concentration.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.